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Valuing Information as a Philanthropic Funder

Author

Listed:
  • Dan Brown
  • Adam Salisbury
  • Meika Ball

Abstract

GiveWell directs around $10 million per year to fund new randomized controlled trials. Funding for new research has a high opportunity cost, as it requires us to spend less directly on programmatic activities. However, it may enable us to direct substantially larger sums of money more cost-effectively in the future if it updates our views about the program. We present the value of information framework, which we use as one input to assess whether to fund new research and show examples where the studies we funded affected tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars in subsequent programmatic grants.

Suggested Citation

  • Dan Brown & Adam Salisbury & Meika Ball, 2025. "Valuing Information as a Philanthropic Funder," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 115, pages 308-312, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:apandp:v:115:y:2025:p:308-12
    DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20251021
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • L31 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - Nonprofit Institutions; NGOs; Social Entrepreneurship
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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